True or False: As metabolic energy is expended for cellular work, the order of the universe increases.

The statement that "as metabolic energy is expended for cellular work, the order of the universe increases" is false. The concept of order and disorder in the universe is fundamentally tied to the second law of thermodynamics, which states that in any energy transfer or transformation, the total entropy of an isolated system can never decrease over time.

When cells utilize energy for work—such as muscle contraction, biosynthesis, or active transport—they are indeed creating organized structures and performing tasks that seem to cause local decreases in entropy. However, these processes release heat and involve energy transformations that increase the overall entropy of the universe.

Therefore, while order may increase locally within the cell's environment during metabolic processes, when considering the entire universe—which includes the heat and energy lost to the surroundings—the overall entropy still increases. This reflects the principle that for any system performing work, the total entropy change, including the surrounding environment, must lead to a net increase in disorder or randomness in the universe.

In summary, the correct response highlights the relationship between metabolic energy use and the overall entropy of the universe, affirming that while local order within cells can increase, the overall order of the universe decreases as entropy is a more comprehensive measure than just the state of individual cells